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lillekatt's avatar
lillekatt
Member
13 years ago

another day with confusion

my doctor left message on my phone, she wanted to confirm what operation I wanted on the day which I got operation spot. I called back and told that I decided for unilateral mastectomy with tissue expander. My doctor, plastic surgeon's secretary knew that the plastic surgeon could not supervise his registered doctor during operation on that day.. but the date was unchanged. I believed they assessed  that it’ld work out.  I went to see the plastic surgery once again as I was told to do so by my surgeon. I thought I need to get measured for expander. But he said there was only S,M,L and no need to measure. I wish I was told before. Any way I again reminded the secretary about the operation day then now she said it's problem. She said there were so many problems when his registrar doctor did operation when supervision was not available and the plastic surgeon was concerned!  I believed my operation was coordinated by someone for 1 week ago. I signed admission more than 2 week so. It is not nice feeling to hear that they had many PROBLEMS with his registrar doctor operating in expander..  unfortunately in my case public system works poorly.. I'm going to call my doctor and ask to get operation as private patient... It has been whole lots of things apart from disease itself... but my insurance doesn’t cover plastic surgery. (it covers one only when done together with other type of major operation )  The 2nd stage to get permanent implant have to wait at least 12 month until my private insurance get upgraded. It is odd situation.. any way this is my diary today.  I  have pain on leg and it started to give a very sharp pain on my leg ligament I’m limping  .. It is getting hard to visit all different doctors, nurse constantly… I’ll go to see my lovely chiropractic doctor tomorrow.  He is very young but very good J

2 Replies

  • lillekatt's avatar
    lillekatt
    Member
    13 years ago

    Thank you for your kind words! I have been away from online for some time. I'm very glad to learn that public system worked very well for you in Perth!

    I took a break from cancer and treating my leg and pelvic problem by my wonderful Chiropractic / Myotherapist. I started to have so much pain and could not walk outside after 2 operations...

    So I thought it was great to wait and recover... My breast nurse in public is not a help.  But my breast nurse at Private (Mater) was really really great.  maybe they have too many patients in public system so that they lower the service level where I live ??    Still I know that I have to keep myself positive and strong!

  • Mich_x's avatar
    Mich_x
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hi Lillekat

    I am so sorry to hear of all your confusion.  It must be very frightening for you.  You need to find one person such as your breast nurse, cancer council co-ordinator or someone in that type of position to sit down with you and to go through everything with you in a calm, quiet enviroment.  There must be someone who can try and put this whole thing in perspective for you and to help you with all the anxiety this is causing you.

    Cancer Council help line is there should you feel that you are not getting the support and help that you need. 

    I have found that my breast nurses will do anything that they can possibly do to make this whole horrible journey easier for you so use them if you need to.

    I have been through my whole treatment process through the public system in Perth and I have not had any problems the whole way through. 

    There must be someone that you can use as a sounding block/mediator to make you feel that what you are doing is the correct thing for you.

    I am so sorry you are having to deal with this anxiety and worry and I am hoping that someone can help you work through this so you feel happy with your decision.

    I wish you well Lillekat

    Mich xoxo